Birthing by Granny Women

by Thelma Keithley Bilyeu

I was born to Elmer Keithley and Mabel Cupp Keithley on December 10, 1915. I was their first
baby and they loved me then and so on to the end.

I was born in a rude log cabin in Clausen Hollow, Taney County, Missouri. The chinking was
poor and the cracks let in the winter air. But they built the fire hot and wrapped me in many quilts
and blankets until they almost smothered me to death.

The house consisted of one big room and when I first remember there was a side room attached.
Later the side room was in such bad repair it was torn down leaving the floor as a porch. So we
lived, slept, cooked and ate in the same room. It was not ceiled but mother kept it clean and nice,
covering the ceiling and walls with building paper. Sometimes the paper would get torn and
money would be scarce so mother would paper the walls with newspapers.

I was brought into the world by experienced Granny Women. My Grandma Cupp was counted to
be one of the best but my mother felt it was not quite proper to have her deliver a grandchild
(although she had already delivered many grandchildren). So mother asked a neighbor, Mrs. Lum
Davis, to attend. However, when she was in labor, my dad decided that Grandmother Cupp
should be there so he slipped away and went on horseback to bring my grandmother. The two
Granny ladies were quite compatible so the birth took place uneventfully. In addition, my
grandmother Keithley lived just across the field and she too was soon on hand to see everything
was done right. I was her first grandchild and she planned to see that everything was done that
should be done. She later told me that if it had not been for her they would have had me
smothered to death more than once.

Excerpted from Thelma Keithley Bilyeu's life reminiscence, to be published in a forthcoming issue of
Ozarks Watch.

KNOWLEDGE

Brings comfort and improvement and tends to personal enjoyment when rightly used. The many,
who live better than others and enjoy life more, with less expenditure, by more pro-raptly
adapting the world's best products to the needs of physical being, will attest the value to health of
the pure liquid laxative principles embraced in the remedy, Syrup of Figs.

Its excellence is due to its presenting in the form most acceptable and pleasant to the taste, the
refreshing and truly beneficial properties of a perfect laxative; effectually cleansing the system,
dispelling colds, headaches and fevers and permanently curing constipation. It has given
satisfaction to millions and met with the approval of the medical profession, because it acts on the
Kidneys, Liver and Bowels without weakening them and it is perfectly free from every
objectionable substance.

Syrup of Figs is for sale by all druggists in 50' and $1 bottles, but it is manufactured by the
California Fig Syrup Co. only, whose name is printed on every package, also the name, Syrup of
Figs, and being well informed, you will not accept any substitution if offered.